We truly had a fantastic hike! We appreciate all the organizing and coordinating in making it a wonderful time. Thank you for all of your lugging and slugging! It was an unforgettable time!

--Carol, Carla, Liz, (Ontario) and Sabine (Austria)

I also very much appreciated both your help (and patience!). It was definitely an incredible trip and one I won't ever forget.

--Tracy, British Columbia

The guides were very very professional and I felt very safe in terrain which is different from North Yorkshire. They produced meals from those rucksacks which my husband thought I was pulling his leg. We did see some envious looks from fellow campers too.

--Kate, Scarborough, Great Britain

Thank you for an excellent West Coast Trail trip. I really appreciate all your hard work and guiding skills. It is what made the trip so memorable.

--Kevin, Northwest Territories

We had a great time and all the aches and pains were worth it!! By the time we got back to my house we were feeling great. Elaine felt very proud of herself. Anyhow, I think you are amazing guide and I hope we didn't wear you out!

Nootka Sound Video

Nootka Sound Map

This is our typical itinerary. (Because we are travelling in wilderness, itineraries can change. There are many factors that can affect how a tour actually runs.)

Day 1
Meet at designated location in Nanaimo. Drive to Cougar Creek where we will spend the night and prepare ourselves and the kayaks for launching on day 2.
Day 2
Load kayaks and launch. Time will be devoted to developing paddle strokes where necessary before and during our journey to our beautiful half-moon shaped campsite on Bligh Island, in the Spanish Pilot Group.
Day 3
We will embark on a day trip from our camp to visit Resolution Cove, where Captain Cook mounted a commemorative plaque on the rocks following his anchorage in Nootka Sound. We will also paddle through the Spanish Pilot group before returning to our camp.
Day 4
We will paddle across Cook Channel to Friendly Cove, known as Yuqout by the local Mowachaht peoples. This is where Captain Cook first landed on the west coast in 1778. Here we will visit the chapel with its stained glass windows depicting Captain Cook and Quadra signing a treaty between Spain and England.
Day 5
We will explore Santa Gertrudis Cove and the Saavedra Islands before crossing back over Cook Channel to camp again on Bligh Island.
Day 6
We will journey back to our put-in at Cougar Creek. Load the kayaks back onto the trailer and drive back to Gold River for lunch then continue our journey back to Nanaimo, arriving sometime in the late afternoon /early evening.

Note: For those who like to fish Nootka Sound is an exceptional salmon fishing location, so be sure to purchase a fishing licence with salmon stamp and bring a rod (Fishing equipment can be rented from us or bought on route).

This trip begins in Nanaimo, where we will arrange your pickup to drive to the kayak put in.

If you are travelling into the Vancouver, Victoria, or Nanaimo area from afar, you should arrive at the departure location for your trip the day/evening prior to the trip start date and plan to leave the day following trip return.

You can fly to Vancouver (airport code YVR) or Seattle (airport code SEA) then connect to Vancouver Island using ferry, bus, or air, or arrange flights directly to Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779)
We will let you know the ferry to take for travelling to Vancouver Island, but if you want to check out times, you can go the the BC Ferries website at:www.bcferries.com/schedules/

How you prepare for your adventure is important. Being well prepared will enhance the quality of your experience. Because we are travelling in wilderness, it is very important for you and for the rest of your adventure group that you are fit enough to handle the level of difficulty and demand with no problems. Our guides know how to minimize the impact of these demands as much as possible, but they cannot remove them. The depth of your experience can only increase if you have made sure that you have prepared well.

Your preparation will be different for different activities. Preparing for a kayak trip is different from preparing for a hiking trip. We have provided some basic information that can be downloaded through the following links to pdf documents. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download it from the Adobe site by clicking here.

Use the links below to download some of the preparation files for this hiking tour. When you book your tour, we will send you a complete preparation packet to help you get ready. We've also included a couple of infographics to help you along.

“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.”
― Joseph Campbell

Sometimes it is just not worth buying new gear, or carrying something with you over a long distance. With the current costs of taking luggage on flights or the costs of buying something that you just won't ever need again, it is helpful to have an option. Our rental gear is just that option to help you on your journey.

Moderate: could see some windy and wavy conditions and long paddle times.